Mechanical trim tab means for marine craft

ABSTRACT

A pair of trim tabs are pivotally connected to the transom of a power boat adjacent to the water line. The angle of the trim tabs is adjusted to desired operating positions by a hand operated lever and cable assembly attached to leverage arms and gears adjustable for mechanical power means. The leverage arms are adjustable for lesser or greater leverage power to the trim tabs.

United States Patent [191 Banner 51 Jan. 8, 1974 [54] MECHANICAL TRIM TAB MEANS FOR 3,370,561 2/1968 llon 114/665 P MARINE C AFT 3,581,696 6/1971 llon ll4/66.5 P 2,985,130 5/1961 Jacobs et a] 1 14/665 P lnventorz" Philip M. Banner, 28 Oxford Rd.,

Massapequa, NY. 11758 Filed: Dec. 6, 1971 I App]. No.: 204,996

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 16,476, March 14, 1970, Pat. No. 3,628,484.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 1912 Erhard 114/665 P Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Donald W. Underwood [57] ABSTRACT A pair of trim tabs are pivotally connected to the transom of a power boat adjacent to the water line. The angle of the trim tabs is adjusted to desired operating positions by a hand operated lever and cable assembly attached to leverage arms and gears adjustable for mechanical power means. The leverage arms are adjustable for lesser or greater leverage power to the trim tabs.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 8' FIGI.

MECHANICAL TRIM TAB MEANS FOR MARINE CRAFT This application is a continuation in part to my prior application Ser.'No. 16,476 filed Mar. 1.4, 1970 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,484, dated Dec. 21, 1971.

That patent shows a manually adjusted trim tab. The present application is an improvement in that the adjustment linkage has more than one leverage position to provide greater or lesser power according to the crafts need and other improvements are featured in the control housing gears providing greater power and manual control of the trim tab movements while under power. The operating parts are adjustable to provide optimum trim at the desired speed. The mechanical operation of this manually operated unit produces maximum force with manual ease for the operator.

Trim tabs, sometimes referred to as boat levelers are commonly used on marine craft for adjusting the trim of a boat. When adjusted properly the speed is increased, fuel consumption decreased, the ride is smoother and there is less load upon the engine, increasing their life expectancy. Also, listing may be adjusted and hull stress reduced.

This invention operates under manual control, having mechanical means to adjust the trim tabs without the use of electrical components or hydraulic means that are both greatly affected by maintenance factors on or around the water. Such prior art devices are expensive, difficult and costly to repair compared to a simplified mechanical unit, hand operated. I

The present invention provides a mechanical system which is easily adjusted for different leverage positions by resetting the positions of the leverage arms resulting in greater power and easier movement for the operator. The various positions of the trim tabs will vary with the speed and resistance factors of the craft. The control lever has degree markings corresponding to the position of the trim tabs, easily set by the operator. The different design and weight factors of boats establish a definite need for a variably controlled manual unit, easy to operate in all positions. This system has a minimum of parts and a minimum potential for malfunction.

The suggested maximum trim tab angle in degrees is' although adjustments are provided for greater angle if desired. As the craft increases its speed the pressure exerted upon the trim tabs increase, that is controlled by a simple mechanical assembly having adjustable leverage arms and positive holding power of the source of power to operate it. The combination of I said mechanical power means having gear ratio and leverage advantages and power asist would provide tremendous advantages for said larger vessels.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved trim tab means for marine 6 craft.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved mechanical trim tab means for marine craft comprising, a tab member pivotally mounted on the transom of a marine craft adjacent to the water level, a rigid elongated adjustable member, the lower end of said member being pivotally connected to said member to rotate said member, a means to mechanically control the movement of said rigid member, comprising a lever pivotally connected to the upper end of said rigid member, said lever having more than one locked leverage adjustment position attached to a gear, said gear moved by another gear-of a different size having ratio advantage, attached to a adjustable lever arm and cable locking means, said cable being adjustable and attached to a hand lever control, said control having a position locking means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved trim tab means for marine craft having a minimum of parts and eliminating motorized or hydraulic control as a means of providing power and providing a fully adjustable manual unit.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specifications and drawingsof which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the irivention.

FIG. 2 shows a modification of the invention that allows one mechanical unit to operate two trim tabs. To accomplish this as in FIG. 2, there are two trim tabs 1, having two rigid linkage arms 4,.connected to a tandem control rod 21 having bushings 22 to lock the position of the tandem rod 21 on the transom 2, connected to the secondary lever arm 8 by means of a pinned linkage member 23. A hole in the stem 2, covered by a rubber boot 25 being connected as in FIG. 1 to the other operating parts.

Referring'to the figures the invention comprises trim tab 1, that is pivotally mounted to the transom 2, of the boat, by means of a hinge 3, a rigid adjustable linkage member 4, connecting the tab at its lower end by a floating pin 5, and the upper end of the linkage 4, by means of a floating pin 6. Adjustment of the linkage 4 is accomplished by turning the threaded part on 4, having a lock nut 7, said-linkage 4 is connected to a lever arm 8 by means of pin 6, that goes through the transom 2, connecting to a gear 12, in the mechanical control unit housing 9, fastened by mounting means 10 to the transom 2. Gear 12 is turned'by another gear 13 an arm 11 attached to gear 13, said arm 11 having attachment means to a cable 18, guided by guides'or pulleys 19, connected to the operating handle lever 14-, having a pressure control release 16, a cable adjustment means 17, having attachment means to the craft 15.

Initial movement occurs when the Operating handle lever 14 locking means 16 is released and moved backwards forcing pressure on the cable 18 guided by pulley or guides 19, connected to the primary gear lever 11 that forces the primary gear '13 to move and turns the secondary gear 12 and the secondary arm 8 that raises or lowers the linkage member 4 that adjusts the trim tabs 1.

The leverage advantages of the combined adjustable parts having more than one position, wherein said positions are adjustable for more or less leverage as may be deemed necessary on different craft. The leverage force exerted by the operating handle will vary with the size of the handle supplied for different craft. The same advantages apply to the gears and the, leverage armswherein each point represents a leverage advantage having maximum force to operate the trim tabs.

The leverage and utility provided by this invention in the arrangement of gears and adjustable lever control arms, adjustable operating handles provide more than sufficient mechanical advantage to easily operate small marine craft while same is under way at full speed, without the necessity for power asists.

I claim:

1. Mechanical trim tab means for motor propelled marine craft comprising,

a tab member pivotally mounted on the transom of a marine craft adjacent to the water level,

a rigid elongated threaded adjustable linkage member pivotally connected to said trim tab member at its lower end,

a universal or pin connection to the upper end of said rigid member,

a mounted mechanical power means connected to the frame of said marine craft, said mechanical power means having internal mechanical means comprising a pair of vertically aligning meshing gears in a ratio advantage position,

a lever arm connected to each gear and having more than one adjustment,

a manual control lever having locking means and adjustable attachment for linkage, and the lever arm connected to the upper gear being attached to said linkage member, and the lever arm connected to the lower gear being actuated by said control lever through a pulley guided cable system.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said trim tab means includes a pair of trim tabs can be operated by the mechanical power means described in claim 1,

a tandem control rod with bushings,

a pair of adjustable linkage arms pivotally connected to the control rod and said tabs,

a single adjustable linkage rod member that is piv otal, connecting the control rod to the power means described in claim 1.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said mechanical power means is connected to the outside of the transom of said craft.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said mechanical power means is connected to the inside of said craft.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said mechanical power means is connected to the inside of the craft.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said mechanical power means is connected to the outside of the craft. 

1. Mechanical trim tab means for motor propelled marine craft comprising, a tab member pivotally mounted on the transom of a marine craft adjacent to the water level, a rigid elongated threaded adjustable linkage member pivotally connected to said trim tab member at its lower end, a universal or pin connection to the upper end of said rigid member, a mounted mechanical power means connected to the frame of said marine craft, said mechanical power means having internal mechanical means comprising a pair of vertically aligning meshing gears in a ratio advantage position, a lever arm connected to each gear and having more than one adjustment, a manual control lever having locking means and adjustable attachment for linkage, and the lever arm connected to the upper gear being attached to said linkage member, and the lever arm connected to the lower gear being actuated by said control lever through a pulley guided cable system.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said trim tab means includes a pair of trim tabs can be operated by the mechanical power means described in claim 1, a tandem control rod with bushings, a pair of adjustable linkage arms pivotally connected to the control rod and said tabs, a single adjustable linkage rod member that is pivotal, connecting the control rod to the power means described in claim
 1. 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said mechanical power means is connected to the outside of the transom of said craft.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said mechanical power means is connected to the inside of said craft.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said mechanical power means is connected to the inside of the craft.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said mechanical power means is connected to the outside of the craft. 